By Lucas Hill-Paul

Copyright manchestereveningnews

Romesh Ranganathan almost abandoned his latest series Romesh: Can’t Knock the Hustle after being left “horrified” by a shocking sequence. The much-loved British comedian has set himself the challenge of testing some of the assertions made in his upcoming stand-up special Hustle, which debuts later this month on Sky Max and NOW. With Dame Emma Thompson providing the introduction, the programme sees Romesh jet across the globe to examine his theories about contemporary workplace culture. Venturing through India, Canada, South Korea and the USA, he questioned and dismantled his own material whilst investigating our hustle-obsessed mentality worldwide. During one segment of the series, he discovers himself in South Korea observing a ceremony featuring a deceased pig conducted by an alternative therapist, reports the Express . “I think a ‘lowlight’ I did was the ceremony I did with the shaman,” he disclosed to the Manchester Evening News. “Where she did this really full-on… there was some animals being thrown about and there was lots of blades being thrown about. I didn’t feel like I was getting much out of that other than trauma. “I didn’t go into the experience thinking, ‘I need more of that in my life’ really. It was certainly an eye-opener, but it’s not something I would do again.” Whilst the programme’s trailer showcases additional startling moments including Romesh uncomfortably stripping off alongside a group of nude men, this particular encounter tested his endurance to breaking point. The situation proved particularly distressing for the comedian, who has followed a vegetarian lifestyle for the majority of his years and adopted veganism in 2013. “If that’s the vegan option, I’d hate to know what the full meat option is,” he quipped. “It was absolutely horrifying. “To be honest with you, I sort of almost walked out, because I found it so horrific.” Despite feeling queasy about the circumstances, Romesh maintained his composure and persevered out of deference to the Korean custom. “At the same time, there’s that balance when you’re doing these things,” he revealed. “Balancing your own sensibilities against what the traditions are of the place you’re visiting. “I think it’s a bit off to suddenly go, ‘this is absolutely outrageous’ to something that’s a tradition in another country. “But at the same time I was pretty horrified, to be honest with you!” Admirers of the comedy performer can expect to see numerous additional chaotic and enlightening scenes when Romesh’s fresh four-part programme hits television screens next week. Romesh: Can’t Knock the Hustle debuts Tuesday, 23rd September on Sky Max and NOW.